Drop-weight for vehicles



(No Model W. L. JOHNSON.

DROP WEIGHT FOR VEHICLES.

No. 583,290. Patented May 25,1897.

'YNE "cams PEYIRS 00.. Fnorouma, wAsnmon, o. c.

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM L. JOHNSON, OF PIOO HEIGHTS, CALIFORNIA, 'ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALFTO J. J. OBRIEN, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

DROP-WEIG HT FOR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 583,290, dated May 25,1897.

Application filed August 7,1896. Serial No. 602,065. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pico Heights, in the county of Los Angeles and State ofOa1ifornia,have invented certain new and useful Improvements inDrop-Weights for Vehicles; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention relates to improvements in horse drop-weights; and theobject of my invention is the provision of mechanism carried by orforming a part of the vehicle which will permit the occupant to drop theweight when desired from the vehicle with ease and quickness.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a drop-weight whichwill be concealed from view when not in use and which will be of simpleand inexpensive construction and thoroughly efficient.

To attain the desired objects, the invention consists of a drop-weightembodying novel features of construction and combination of parts,substantially as disclosed herein.

Figure 1 represents a view showing a portion of a vehicle with mydrop-weight applied. Fig. 2 represents a vertical sectional view of thedrop-weight mechanism.

In the drawings, A designates a portion of a Vehicle in connection withwhich I use my drop-weight mechanism, which consists of the housing orcasing B, which is secured to the under side of the vehicle-body andwhich is to cover and protect the weight and mechanism.

O designates the weight, which is provided with the bail D, to which isconnected the cord or chain E, which leads to the bridle or other partof the head-harness, and also connected with the bail is the cord F,which is provided with the lug or stop G and is arranged in the opencasing H. In this open casing is pivoted the latch-lever J, one end ofwhich engages the stop or button on the cord, and the other end isengaged by the spring K, the purpose of which is to cause the lever tofirmly engage the stop or button when the weight is not in use, andleading from the spring-lever is the releasing hand cord or chain M.

' the weight falls to the ground.

My device may be attached directly to the bottom of the vehicle, or Imay use a casing or housing N.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings,the operation of my drop-weight will be readily understood, and it willbe seen that in normal position the weight is raised and retained out ofsight in the casing by means of the spring-latch lever engaging thebuttonorlug, and when it is desired to drop the weight it is simplynecessary to draw the hand-cord up, which releases the lever fromcontact with the button and WVhen it is desired to lift the Weight, thecord carrying the button is raised and the weight is retained up by thespring-lever engaging the said button, as will be apparent.

. I claim-- 1. The combination of the weight, a strap or cord leadingfrom said weight to the harness, a cord or strap leading from the weightinto the vehicle, a button on said strap, a lever pivoted intermediateof its ends and having its inner end constructed to engage the button tohold the weight up, a spring under the free end of said lever to operatesaid lever and a cord or chain connected to the lever to release thesame.

2. The combination with the vehicle, of the box or casing securedthereto and having an opening therein, the shield or guard for theweight secured to the under side of said casing or box, the weightarranged in said shield and having the bail or staple, the cord or strapleading from said staple to the harness, the cord connected to saidstaple passing up through the opening in the box or casing and throughthe vehicle-body, the button or stop on said cord, the bracket aroundthe opening of the box or casing forming a guide for the button, thelever fnlcrumed in said bracket and having one end adapted to engage thebutton, the spring under the free end of the lever, and thereleasing-cord leading from the lever into the body of the vehicle.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM L. JOHNSON.

\Vitnesses:

F. M. FLEoK, F. R. ELLIs.

